She-Beast

We've had random visits from a Cooper'a Hawk the last couple weeks. For the most part I haven't seen the bird as it hides really well nearby. The lack of other birds is a sign. The stressed out Squirrels is another. While watching the birds from the kitchen window, I have seen the Hawk fly in or through the yard chasing other birds.

This winter I've gone a week or more without seeing my Pigeon pals Dorothy, Fitz and Charlie. I'd rather them be away and hopefully in a safer spot. I am sure this is not the only Cooper's Hawk around; January 20th proved that when I saw two in our backyard.

I really cannot differentiate these Hawks. Sometimes I think observing their attitude and hunting technique may help. Remember the unique hunter I had here a little while ago? Something about this Hawk from this past weekend reminded me of that bird. She came to ground and disappeared inside our Holly bush, trying to catch a hiding Sparrow.

It's been interesting watching this Hawk. She caught a Pigeon on both days. I did not see either take down, which I am okay with. It's a lot easier to watch things after the struggle is over from the prey, especially when one has a soft spot for these "victims".

Usually the Hawk is done with a Pigeon in an hour or so, something smaller, half the time. It's a matter of catch it, kill it, and eat it. This bird, this weekend, it went on for hours. Saturday was easily 3 hours of leisurely consumption. Sunday was even longer. She plucked. She ate. She had a time out and watched the world around her. There was a lot of personal preening happening throughout the meal too, leaving it and flying to a nearby branch!

As for these photos, anything from Saturday was me outside after I thought she had left. I was going to photograph some Cardinals and Nuthatches in the snowfall. Turns out the Hawk was still here and right behind our Holly bush. I guess she learned from me that this is a good hiding spot? Ha ha. She startled me as she flushed with the last remains of the bird. She carried it further down near our shed. I took some photos from where I stood, maybe moving side to side, but not any closer.

Sunday, after over 3 hours since I initially saw her, I looked out the window again and she was sitting in the snow, looking rather full and proud of herself. I decided it was a good time to try for some photos and went out the front door, sneaking up the side of the house and making my way to my viewing blind being the Holly bush. She was down near the shed. I could see she had consumed most of the Pigeon by this time. I took that the distance between the Holly bush to the shed was an acceptable distance for us, going by the play out one day before. I still took a very slow (quiet) approach to getting to the bush, being as quiet as possible. My light steps seemed to amplify in the snow.

The Hawk seemed to take little notice to my presence. Squirrels were running up and down nearby trees nattering at her. Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches vocalized their disapproval too. She was pretty much "ya, whatever" to the complaints.

Here are a few photos from the two encounters with her.

Saturday it was dark and stormy all day. She is way down back. Full zoom and some further cropping to the images.

I hate to think that is Dorothy (one of my hand feeder pals) because the wings are the same and even the chest pattern looks very similar. I didn't see her out there but I wasn't glued to the window watching all morning. Time will tell I suppose. February would mark 1 year with Dorothy coming to visit.

Oh Dorothy!

Sunday was an exceptional encounter. The lighting was much better. It wasn't storming. The temperature was around -30 Celsius with the wind chill. Brrrr!

I thought I spooked her and away she went; but I think it was the two p'od Squirrels who were right above her in the trees, racing up and down, jumping on the fence.

She landed about 15 ft over and I wasn't complaining about her being in better light.

About 4 pm, she flew off, leaving the last of the Pigeon on the ground. I thought that was it for the day. She had her fill. I happened to be looking out the window near 5 pm and caught sight of her flying in, grabbing the carcass, and then flying off out of the yard. I assume she took it with her to wherever she was roosting for the night?

As I key this blog, 9 Pigeons have come in. None are my pals. I call these "the commoners". They don't seem to be very wary of the threat that has been here lately; so perhaps these are some new birds who may learn the hard way this morning? Wouldn't that be fortunate for the She-beast (as I call her now)?

Happy Anniversary Fitz!

What more can be said? Thanks to Facebook, I see we hit our one year anniversary.

Fitz came in at a good time, about a month after all my old Pigeon flock left and never returned. He's a big vocal boy much like a Pigeon I used to know. Some days he's waiting outside the back door... much like a Pigeon I used to know. We've been through a few things the past year, like his molt.

He's a happier bird when that is done; and a lot more attractive too!

His visits have been random since the Hawks showed up for the winter. But he was here the other morning, popping in with a few others.

I hope he stays safe and our friendship continues to grow.

Oh Pigeons! What's not to love? Take some time to get to know one and you will see.

So This Happened...

On the weekend we had morning visits from an Opossum. If you read my last blog, you already knew that. He showed up 8:30 the one morning, and then 11:30 the next. A great sighting for us fans of these animals. Being avid participants with Project Feeder Watch Canada, we are attentive to the backyard for birds, and anything else that might come through.

I looked out for him Monday and Tuesday without any sightings.

Then Wednesday morning, not entirely thinking about it in my waking moment, just got the coffee going, when I look out the kitchen window and there he was roaming around way down back. I quickly bundle up and out I go as stealth-like as I possibly can. Once again I use our holly bush as my viewing blind. I watch. I take a few photos.

Wandering in front of the shed.

Where is he going? If you can see what is in the background, you know I'm getting a little excited.

At this moment I am like "Holy S**t!" in my brain.

I'm just shooting away to this moment, not looking at how the shots are turning out. Thank goodness they are decent enough to help tell this tale.

Woo hoo!

And in he goes.

Now from where I've been hiding, the distance to the dog house is roughly 40 ft. I stayed motionless throughout this encounter and did not make a sound neither. Unfortunately a few minutes later out he comes again, going back under the shed, out the hole in the lattice under the doors, and he's heading towards the house. I'm still at the holly bush, still hunkered down.

It was right after this photo below that I wish someone else was there with me. Someone who could have taken a picture of what happened next.

The Opossum was heading straight towards me. He did not know I was there. He got maybe 3 or 4 ft from me, when he stopped. He realized I was there, unintentionally blocking his path. I did not move. I did not speak. I just looked at him. He looked at me. I'm sure I could not hold back the growing smile on my face though. It was probably only a few seconds but felt longer. He then walked around me, quite close I might add. It was not a full on run for his life neither, just the pace he had going previously. And then just like the mornings on the weekend, he went up the side of the house, to the front, crossing the street and off behind a neighbour's house to sleep the day away.

I'm hoping he, or another, might make good steady use of our dog house at some point this winter. The house is packed full of straw to help keep an animal warm. Plus I really hate seeing them cross roads, even our small street.

I also hope for one day that a Screech Owl uses this Owl box as well. I've seen a Screech Owl a few times in the backyards. I've heard one a couple other times. I've found pellets on the roof of our shed. We had one in our other box. It can happen. Imagine that! A Screech Owl in the box with an Opossum in the house just behind. No I am not greedy at all!

Stay tuned for any updates. There is a follow button on the right side of the screen if that makes things easier for you.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It was a nice holiday season. No story telling so I thought I would share a few photos.

The #whiskykittys and I are well stocked for a good part of 2019.

We started on the new rye the last 2 Wednesdays.

One of our nieces sent me this all the way from Alberta. Such a cool surprise!

We did not get a Critter Christmas tree this year. Some years we just pick up a discarded tree from one of the neighbours, but even that so far this year, has not happened. The animals get spoiled all year long so it's not a big deal.

It's nice to see Fitz coming in but also avoiding the Hawks hunting our neighbourhood. I don't see him daily, and there's been many days without any Pigeons coming in at all lately.

Oh Ripper! What's not to love about this gentle soul?

A few outings here and there but the bird activity is rather slow. We enjoy every bird seen nonetheless especially the unique ones like this Wild Turkey we spotted on Christmas morning. We also saw a couple Coyotes in the area so this bird sitting up in the tree was a great safe spot. Wild Turkeys in Toronto is not a very common thing. This one we've seen a few times since the fall.

A Snowy Owl has been hanging out at one of the lake parks this winter.

There's not many Long-eared Owls to be found in the area but I found one.

Tis the season for quieter nights at home and any mammal sightings. I did see tracks after a recent snowfall.

Raccoon tracks across the deck, passing our back door, and heading over the fence into the neighbour's yard.

Two different sets of tracks on the lawn. One set going towards the house. The other set going away from the house. I believe it's two different animals because the one on the right shows some dragging movement over the snow while the set on the left shows just paw prints and the animal was able to carry itself over the snow. The snow was too light and fluffy to get any good prints to look at.

The biggest surprise of the new year was this Opossum showing up in our backyard 8:30 Saturday morning. He made a couple appearances over the next 45 minutes before leaving the yard again, and hopefully off to sleep the day away some where safe and quiet.

Someone has been using our doghouse behind the shed. I am not sure who but it does smell kinda skunky. It's been so tempting to peek inside but I'd rather not disturb and scare away a sleeping resident. The house is packed with straw. A couple weeks ago I looked inside and noticed a matted down area where an animal had bedded down at some point. Funny thing is that time there was no signs from the exterior of use and I was just curious if anything was going on. Now there's signs from the outside and I won't look in. I am definitely getting a trail cam very soon.

Who do you think might be using the house?

Well, that's it for now. Have a great week! And as always thanks for stopping in. Angie did a blog about our Christmas if anyone feels up for a bit more reading.